Role: Volunteers work on achieving the goals set out in the Care Management Plan, including running educational games and group activities, providing emotional support and helping disadvantaged youngsters reintegrate back into society.

Requirements: None

Accommodation: Host families

Length of placement: From 2 weeks

Start dates: Flexible

Joining Projects Abroad as a care volunteer in Mexico, you will have an important role to play in the orphanages, care centres, and kindergartens where we work. Volunteers at all our care placements in Mexico are engaged in helping children who have few other people they can turn to. Volunteering in Mexico should be considered a challenging, but also an incredibly rewarding endeavour.

You are not required to have previous experiences working with children, provided that you are passionate and committed to the job and the people you’re trying to help. Whether you are on a gap year, an older volunteer on a career break or volunteering for a summer abroad, you will have a role to play and your contribution will be valued.

You can join the Care project in Mexico for two or three weeks if you don't have time to join us for four weeks or more. This project has been selected by our local colleagues as being suitable for shorter durations for both the host community and the volunteer. Although you will gain valuable cultural insight and work intensely within the local community please be aware that you may not be able to make the same impact as someone participating for a longer period.

Volunteering with Children who have Special Needs and Orphanage Work in Mexico

Projects Abroad has a variety of care placements in Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city, and Ciudad Guzman, a smaller town in the volcanic region a couple of hours south. Volunteering in Mexico could see you working in an orphanage, kindergarten, or centre for children with mental and physical disabilities. Our partner organizations include the Red Cross, who operate care centres in the region.

You will need to be patient with children as many of them have problems stemming from their home life and general background. Many of the children are desperate for attention and there will undoubtedly be children who have health problems and need special attention due to both mental and physical disabilities.

Volunteer Profile

Laura Bradford

The children were enchanting and I relished the relaxed attitude in this school, especially compared to my experience of work in a London Kindergarten...The children were really eager to learn numbers and colours, and making up songs to help them learn these proved very popular. The teachers allow you to be as inventive as you like with your teaching methods, and do as little or as much English as you want. Read more...

Volunteering Abroad at a Care Centre in Mexico

We also place volunteers at a day care centre for children receiving cancer treatments. You are needed to assist the dedicated staff here, helping keep the children entertained with a variety of activities while they wait for treatment. For the most part, you will be helping add positivity and fun into their difficult daily lives.

As a Care volunteer it is important you have a lot of energy! Help the children with everything from brushing their teeth to learning the words of the latest pop song. Any encouragement you can offer goes a long way toward building a child's self-esteem and confidence. However exhausted you feel at the end of the day, you will always feel that it has been well worth the effort.

As well as working in orphanages, centres for the disabled, and kindergartens, we also place volunteers at a care centre for youngsters who have had problems with drugs or been living on the street. You are needed to assist the dedicated staff here, helping to rehabilitate the children through education and a variety of activities.

Volunteer Profile

Meredith Gleason

Every day at work was an inspiration. I was so inspired by the courage of these children and these parents. They smile so deeply and I can truly see the effect that I have on their mood. Having someone to talk to, to laugh with, to play with, and to share their culture with is something that all children need, and especially these. By being there and talking with the children, encouraging them and smiling with them, I know I made an incredible difference. Read more...